Hi
I had my surgery four years ago and everything is going well but I still get a lot of discomfort around the scar tissue on my face and neck. Sometimes it is an itchy, tingling feeling - other times it feels like my skin is being stretched.Do you other long-termers get this? If so, any tips on relieving it as it often stops me sleeping.
Thanks
Sheila

Hi,
I'm not exactly a long termer (op Oct 06) although I have had various 'feelings' from the neck dissection. I'm a great believer in Bio Oil. I still use it two or three times a week and find it does relieve tightness and the massage effect of rubbing in the oil does help relieve the tingly feelings.
SusieR

hi sheila and susie
i guess i am still early days after neck dissection aug/07 i am just very impatient and did not realise how i would have so many limitations after surgery for 2 cancers. the treatment is quite horrendous for even the smallest of tumours i guess i am just going through the angry stage of this journey at the moment anyway i did a sponsered walk for my local hospice on sunday and raised 100 pounds!

Hi Bev,
Long road, sometimes hard to travel as some of the older (people who joined here before us) will tell us).
I'm impatient too. I've done some things this year, which in retrespect was to early to try but being the pig headed, obstinate person I am have done them anyway!!! and I still get an angry fit now and again. I guess that's what makes me do them in the fist place.
Infact I had one about an hour ago. I had a text from a friend in Sweden, who I have not seen since before surgery, asking me to go and visit this summer. I have more surgery due which is going mess up making plans because I have no date yet. (It's not seen as an emergency, even though I can hardly lift my head now, swallowing is very hard and the progress I made with my speech is going again ).
The thoughts of travelling, taking with me or trying to source and pay for peg feed whilst being over there is pee'ing me off big time.
I want to do it all. Yesterday!.
I bet the hospice was chuffed to bits with your walk and money raised. Well done to you and for letting people see that there is a chance of recovery. Keep it up.
SusieR

hi susie
just found your other reply
being inpatient is one of the hardest things one minute my speach is not too bad next my tongue feels really swollen and i slur my speach and tongue feels too big for mouth!it would be great if you can go to sweeden to meet up with your friend hope you dont have to wait too long for your surgeryxx

Susie and Bev, Many thanks for your replies. Just wanted to say that things DO continue to improve for years afterwards. Some of my tastes have come back just in the last couple of months - I can now enjoy a small glass of red wine again and the slurred speech only happens now if I am very tired or not well. So hang in there - things WILL get better!

Hi Sheila

Like you I had surgery 4 years ago. I use Aloe Vera gel to help soften the scar tissue. I think it works but it's still stiff somtimes - particularly in cold or wet weather when itall seems to seize up. But anyway - aloe vera gel - which you can gt at Health shops but is cheaper in Boyes (if you have Boyes stores near you.) Ptrobably Tescohas it too.

Tony